Iranians told not to take Trump’s bait and stay calm

A number of former Obama administration officials have quietly urged Iranian government officials to keep their heads cool in the face of the Trump administration’s maximum pressure policy against Tehran.

US officials have reached out to their contacts in the Iranian government, including Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to tell them, “Don’t take Trump’s bait and stay calm”.

Conversations between former Obama officials and Iranian government officials have been ongoing since November 2016. But the recent round of conversations, which took place over the phone and in person over the last two months, came as lines of communication between the US and Iran, through intermediaries in Europe and elsewhere.

Tensions between Iran and the U.S. have grown in recent weeks, especially after the latter deployed an aircraft carrier strike group, B-52 bombers, and 1,500 more American troops in the region, citing unidentified Iranian “threats”. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said, “We are aware that evident elements are trying to put America into a war with Iran for their own goals.” He said US National Security Adviser John Bolton and “other warmongers” are plotting against Iran.

“War would be a disaster for everybody in the region. We hope that wisdom will prevail in Washington, that they do not make this biggest mistake in the region ever. But we are fully prepared for that scenario,” Araqchi said.